 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An IFR PA-27 pilot lost electrical power during climb out and could not talk with ATC or squawk transponder codes. The pilot returned to land at his departure airport NORDO.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 820687 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200901 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-23-250 Aztec |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Electrical Power |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 7000 Flight Crew Type 100 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
Departed ZZZ on an IFR flight plan; destination ZZZ1. Opened flight plan and was cleared to 7;000 ft direct ZZZ1 and was attempting to squawk a code. The transponder was not showing a return and was confirmed by ATC. I turned on cabin heat and all radios went dead. After picking up my flashlight and trying to correct the problem and investigate; I made the decision to return to base. After putting in a 7600 code on the transponder (hoping it could be seen); I did a 180 degree turn and headed back in the general direction of ZZZ. It was just breaking daylight and I could still see the rotating beacon at the airport. I made a typical VFR descent while being aware of the 2 airports now off my right wing. Someone had turned on the runway lights at ZZZ so the landing area was clearly visible. Gear and flaps were deployed normally and I landed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An IFR PA-27 pilot lost electrical power during climb out and could not talk with ATC or squawk transponder codes. The pilot returned to land at his departure airport NORDO.
Narrative: Departed ZZZ on an IFR flight plan; destination ZZZ1. Opened flight plan and was cleared to 7;000 FT direct ZZZ1 and was attempting to squawk a code. The transponder was not showing a return and was confirmed by ATC. I turned on cabin heat and all radios went dead. After picking up my flashlight and trying to correct the problem and investigate; I made the decision to return to base. After putting in a 7600 code on the transponder (hoping it could be seen); I did a 180 degree turn and headed back in the general direction of ZZZ. It was just breaking daylight and I could still see the rotating beacon at the airport. I made a typical VFR descent while being aware of the 2 airports now off my right wing. Someone had turned on the runway lights at ZZZ so the landing area was clearly visible. Gear and flaps were deployed normally and I landed.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.